A MONTH LATER,
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to react that way."
Stan knelt before Vera, his heart aching at the sight of her tear-filled eyes.
Since his last outburst, she had completely shut him out, ignoring his calls, his messages, and even his emails. He had begged to see her, to explain, but she never responded.
A whole month without her, and it felt like an eternity. He felt a deep emptiness, that nearly consumed him.
Then, out of nowhere, she agreed to see him. She came to his house, but the coldness in her eyes draped guillt on him.
"I was angry. I thought you—"
"Thought I wanted to trap you with a child?" Vera cut him off bitterly, her voice trembling.
"Say it. Isn't that what you thought?" Her gaze bore into his, demanding the truth.
"I'm sorry," Stan whispered, his voice thick with regret. He had lost control, had let his fears drive him to hurt her. And now, he hated himself for it.
"I was furious because I love you," he admitted, his voice soft, and pleading.
Vera's eyes widene in disbelief.
"You… love me?" She sounded like she didn't believe it, like she never expected to hear those words from him.
Stan gently took her hand and pressed a soft kiss to her fingers. "I love you."
She let out a bitter scoff. "And yet, you reacted like that because you thought I was pregnant?" She shook her head, her confusion and pain evident.
How could a man claim to love a woman but explode in anger at the thought of her carrying his child? Especially a man as powerful and independent as Stan? Shouldn't he have been happy?
"Because I was afraid you'd get hurt," he murmured, his gaze locking onto hers, full of unspoken emotions.
If she carried his child, her life could be in danger. That was what terrified him the most. But he couldn't tell her that. He just couldn't.
Vera let out a louder scoff, her frustration building up. "Are you even listening to yourself?" she asked, her confused gaze searching his face.
"I might get hurt? From having your child?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief.
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself before asking, "Tell me the truth, Stan. Why don't you want a child?"
Stan's expression altered, and he lowered his gaze. "Babe, can we not talk about this now?" he pleaded, his voice soft.
But Vera's patience snapped. "That's what you always say! Every time I ask, it's the same excuse!" she shouted, her frustration reaching its peak.
She scanned his face thoroughly, then, the question that had haunted her for so long slipped from her lips.
"Is there another woman?"
"No!!" Stan's answer came instantly, his head shaking furiously.
"I'm not cheating. I swear," he said, his voice firm, his eyes pleading for her to believe him.
Vera fell silent, so many questions crowded her mind. She didn't know which one to ask first. Instead, she sank to the floor, knelt before him, and wrapped her arms around him.
"I love you so much. So much," she whispered, pressing herself against him.
Stan's arms tightened around her. "And I love you too," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
"Then please," she pleaded softly, "tell me about yourself."
She felt it immediately, the way his whole body tensed, the way his breath hitched. She let out a bitter smile. She already knew the answer. He would never tell her.
Slowly, he pulled away and looked into her eyes. "I'm Stan George, managing Zathcore AutoTech. Li—"
"Lives alone. No family. No friends. An introvert," Vera finished for him, her voice laced with pain.
"Isn't that your next line?" she asked, her heart sinking in sadness.
It was always the same. Nothing ever changed.
Stan let out a dry chuckle, spreading his arms. "Because there's nothing else."
"There is," Vera shot back without hesitation.
"I can help you if you let me," she said, standing up before settling into the sofa.
"Sit," she motioned, and Stan, knowing better than to argue, obeyed.
"Even if you don't have parents, you must have step-parents. You attended a high school, it has a name. You attended university, it has a name, too. You met people there, made friends. They have names, Stan," she pressed, her voice rose steadily.
"Babe, stop," he interrupted, his voice low. He wasn't willing to go down this road again.
Vera exhaled sharply. "Fine. I won't ask anymore," she said, her voice cracking. "But it hurts so much."
A heavy silence settled between them.
"My mom called," she finally said, breaking the silence. "She wants to see me."
Stan remained still, knowing what was coming next.
"Will you come with me? Meet my family?" she asked, even though she already knew his answer.
Stan sighed, rubbing his face as if that could somehow relieve the tension between them. "Babe, I would…"
"Have loved to, but you're busy," she finished for him, her voice empty.
"Same excuse, every time," she whispered. "I don't know your family, and you don't know mine. I want to, but you avoid mine like the plague."
She gave a weak, tired smile before shifting further into the sofa, a silent sign that the conversation was over.
Stan dragged a hand through his hair, pinched the bridge of his nose, and exhaled deeply before looking at her.
"I promise, in due time, you'll know everything about me. Believe me," he said, moving closer. He leaned forward and kissed her gently. Bu, she slowly pulled away, avoiding his lips.
"Kiss me, babe," he whispered, his voice soft, and pleading.
"Please, babe," Stan's voice dropped into a husky whisper, sending shivers down her spine.
He gently lifted her face, his intense gaze locking onto hers before his lips captured hers. This time, she didn't resist. She told herself it would stop at just a kiss, but soon, their clothes lay forgotten, and she melted beneath him like she always did.
When it was over, reality struck hard.
Her heart pounded as the realization hit, he hadn't protected himself, and she hadn't gone back for her birth control shot.
"Shit," she muttered under her breath, still wrapped in his embrace.
Stan tensed. "What is it?"
She quickly shook her head. "Nothing," she lied, panic creeping into her voice.
She couldn't tell him. If she did, it would lead to another fight, another storm she wasn't ready for. Instead, her mind raced, calculating.
Stan wasn't convinced. "Tell me," he pressed, his soft yet insistent voice making it clear he wouldn't drop it.
Vera swallowed, forcing a small smile. "I… I just wanted more," she murmured.
The moment the words left her lips, he flipped her over, his touch igniting a new fire between them.
Again and again, they lost themselves in each other, but no matter how high the pleasure took her, Vera's mind was trapped elsewhere, staring at an invisible calendar, counting the days, realizing with panic that she was right in the middle of her fertile window.
She was in trouble. Big, big trouble.